Disney proves ‘woke’ ain’t broke with enchantingly refreshed Snow White remake
The much-maligned movie is finally out - and it's good!
Disney has had the last laugh for its live-action remake of the studio’s first-ever animated feature, Snow White, is perhaps surprisingly one of its strongest and most worthwhile ‘reimaginings’ to date.
Despite the ardent wishes of a vocal section of the online community, who have kept up fresh waves of backlash against the film since 2001, Snow White arrives in cinemas as a movie carefully tailored and tweaked to better suit a modern audience – but without losing fundamental parts of its identity as a traditional fairy tale.
Rachel Zegler’s Snow White is still the fairest of them all, but in 2025 this is more about her attitude and kindness as a princess, raised to lead her kingdom, than her looks.
There’s also still a poisoned apple, a magic mirror on the wall, an Evil Queen (Gal Gadot) who transforms into a hag, a magical slumber and – for better or worse – seven CGI dwarfs.
West Side Story star Zegler once again proves herself an enchanting talent with a voice to match, carefully avoiding falling into twee territory as the original Disney princess.
She also beautifully showcases musical duo Pasek and Paul’s new songs for the movie (even if Good Things Grow is rather too foot-stompingly Greatest Showman for this setting).
